U.S. patent application number 14/443057 was filed with the patent office on 2015-10-01 for tubing pump.
This patent application is currently assigned to NAMIKI PRECISION SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is NAMIKI PRECISION SINGAPORE PTE. LTD., NAMIKI SEIMITSU HOUSEKI KABUSHIKIKAISHA. Invention is credited to Makoto Kashiwagi, Hiroyuki Kogure, Masahiro Koyama, Shouta Nakamura, Hiroyuki Tajima.
Application Number | 20150275887 14/443057 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50731217 |
Filed Date | 2015-10-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150275887 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Koyama; Masahiro ; et
al. |
October 1, 2015 |
TUBING PUMP
Abstract
PROBLEM: To improve opening and closing operability of a door.
SOLUTION: A tubing pump for transferring a fluid in a detachably
attached tube 30 by a pump mechanism 50, the tubing pump is
equipped with: a pump body 10 having a base 11 to and from which
the tube 30 can be attached and detached; a door 20 pivotally
supported to be rotatable with respect to the pump body 10, so as
to open or close the base 11; switching urging unit A for urging
the door 20 in an opening direction in a first rotation range R1 on
a completely opened side and switching an urging direction to a
closing direction in a second rotation range R2 on a completely
closed side; and closing suppression unit B for suppressing an
urging force in the closing direction by the switching urging unit
A in the second rotation range R2.
Inventors: |
Koyama; Masahiro; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Nakamura; Shouta; (Tokyo, JP) ;
Kashiwagi; Makoto; (Tokyo, JP) ; Kogure;
Hiroyuki; (Tokyo, JP) ; Tajima; Hiroyuki;
(Tokyo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
NAMIKI SEIMITSU HOUSEKI KABUSHIKIKAISHA
NAMIKI PRECISION SINGAPORE PTE. LTD. |
Tokyo
Singapore |
|
JP
SG |
|
|
Assignee: |
NAMIKI PRECISION SINGAPORE PTE.
LTD.
Singapore
SG
NAMIKI SEIMITSU HOUSEKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
50731217 |
Appl. No.: |
14/443057 |
Filed: |
November 14, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
November 14, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2013/080765 |
371 Date: |
May 14, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/476 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M 5/14228 20130101;
F04B 43/12 20130101; F04B 43/0072 20130101; F04B 43/082 20130101;
A61M 39/281 20130101; F04B 43/08 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F04B 43/12 20060101
F04B043/12; F04B 43/08 20060101 F04B043/08; F04B 43/00 20060101
F04B043/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 14, 2012 |
JP |
2012-250349 |
Claims
1. A tubing pump for transferring a fluid in a detachably attached
tube by a pump mechanism, the tubing pump comprising: a pump body
having a base to and from which the tube can be attached and
detached; a door pivotally supported to be rotatable with respect
to the pump body, so as to open or close the base; switching urging
unit for urging the door in an opening direction in a first
rotation range on a completely opened side and switching an urging
direction to a closing direction in a second rotation range on a
completely closed side; and closing suppression unit for
suppressing an urging force in the closing direction by the
switching urging unit in the second rotation range.
2. The tubing pump according to claim 1, wherein the closing
suppression unit is provided not to suppress the urging force in
the closing direction by the switching urging unit in a specified
range on the completely opened side within the second rotation
range but to suppress the urging force in the closing direction by
the switching urging unit in a specified range on the completely
closed side within the second rotation range.
3. The tubing pump according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the switching
urging unit includes: a rod; a rod support portion that supports
the rod rotatably with respect to the pump body and slidably in a
longitudinal direction of the rod; and an urging member that urges
the rod to one side in the longitudinal direction thereof, and this
switching urging unit causes a front end side of the rod to be
engaged with the door, so as to urge one side portion with a
rotation center of the door being a boundary by one end side of the
rod to perform an opening operation when the door is positioned in
the first rotation range, and to rotate the rod in conjunction with
a closing operation and urge another side portion with the rotation
center of the door being the boundary by the one end side of the
rod to perform the closing operation of the door when the closing
operation is performed until the door is positioned in the second
rotation range.
4. The tubing pump according to claim 3, wherein the switching
urging unit is equipped with a first urging member as the urging
member on a portion of the rod on a front side of the rod support
portion, and the closing suppression unit is equipped with a second
urging member for urging the rod to the rear on a portion of the
rod on a rear side of the rod support portion.
5. The tubing pump according to claim 4, wherein the rod is urged
to the front by the first urging member and urged to the rear by
the second urging member in a range on a completely closed side of
a specified angle within the second rotation range, and a load of
the second urging member is maintained to be constant by the rod
that slides to the rear in a range on a completely opened side of
the specified angle.
6. The tubing pump according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein
the pump mechanism includes a valve mechanism that presses and
deforms the attached tube in a radial direction by using an urging
force of a valve urging member, so as to close the valve, and is
configured to open this valve mechanism when the fluid is
transferred into the tube, and the valve mechanism is provided to
be pressed and opened by one end side of the rod that rotates in
conjunction with the opening operation when this opening operation
of the door is performed, and to separate from the one end side of
the rod and be maintained in a closed state by the urging force of
the valve urging member when the closing operation of the door is
performed.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention relates to a tubing pump for transferring a
fluid in a detachably attached tube by a pump mechanism.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Conventionally, as described in Patent Document 1, this type
of the invention includes: a pump body (10) to and from which a
transfusion tube (40) can be attached and detached; a door (door
unit 20) pivotally supported to open or close a base of the pump
body (10); and a handle (23) for closing valves (14A, 14B) of a
pump mechanism by a lever operation that follows a closing
operation of the door.
[0003] According to this background art, the transfusion tube (40)
is attached to the pump body (10), and the door (door unit 20) is
closed. Then, when the handle (23) rotates, the valves (14A, 14B)
of the pump mechanism are automatically closed. Accordingly, it is
possible to prevent an unintentional flow of a medical fluid or the
like in the transfusion tube (40) that is caused by gravity,
vibration, or the like.
[0004] By the way, regarding such a tubing pump, a configuration
that the door is rotated by an electric motor, a configuration that
manual opening or closing of the door is assisted by an urging
force of a spring, and the like are suggested to further improve
opening and closing operability of the door.
[0005] However, part cost tends to be increased in the former case
due to use of the electric motor, a gear, a switch, and the like.
Meanwhile, in the latter case, low cost production can be expected
when compared to the case where the electric motor is used.
However, when the spring is too weak, a sufficient assisting force
cannot be obtained. When the spring is too strong, a shock that is
generated when the door is completely closed is too large. Thus,
exercise of ingenuity is required.
CITATION LIST
Patent Literatures
[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Domestic Re-publication of PCT
International Publication No. WO2009/133705 A
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0007] The invention has been made in view of the above
conventional situation and therefore has a problem of providing a
tubing pump that can improve opening and closing operability of a
door.
Solutions to the Problems
[0008] An unit for solving the above problem is a tubing pump for
transferring a fluid in a detachably attached tube by a pump
mechanism, the tubing pump being equipped with: a pump body having
a base to and from which the tube can be attached and detached; a
door pivotally supported to be rotatable with respect to the pump
body, so as to open or close the base; switching urging unit for
urging the door in an opening direction in a first rotation range
on a completely opened side and switching an urging direction to a
closing direction in a second rotation range on a completely closed
side; and closing suppression unit for suppressing an urging force
in the closing direction by the switching urging unit in the second
rotation range.
Effects of the Invention
[0009] The invention is configured as described above and thus can
achieve a purpose of improving opening and closing operability of a
door.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a tubing pump
according to the invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a state that a door is
opened in the tubing pump.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main portion of the tubing
pump that is seen obliquely from a rear side.
[0013] FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of an operation of the tubing
pump and corresponds to a time point (a) on a graph in FIG. 9.
[0014] FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the operation of the tubing
pump and corresponds a time point (b) on the graph in FIG. 9.
[0015] FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the operation of the tubing
pump and corresponds a time point (c) on the graph in FIG. 9.
[0016] FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of the operation of the tubing
pump and corresponds a time point (d) on the graph in FIG. 9.
[0017] FIG. 8 is an explanatory view of the operation of the tubing
pump and corresponds a time point (e) on the graph in FIG. 9.
[0018] FIG. 9 is a graph for indicating a relationship between a
door angle and a spring load of each urging member in the tubing
pump, in which a solid line represents a first urging member, a
broken line represents a second urging member, and a dashed dotted
line represents a valve urging member.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0019] A first characteristic of this embodiment is a tubing pump
for transferring a fluid in a detachably attached tube by a pump
mechanism, the tubing pump being equipped with: a pump body having
a base to and from which the tube can be attached and detached; a
door pivotally supported to be rotatable with respect to the pump
body, so as to open or close the base; switching urging unit for
urging the door in an opening direction in a first rotation range
on a completely opened side and switching an urging direction to a
closing direction in a second rotation range on a completely closed
side; and closing suppression unit for suppressing an urging force
in the closing direction by the switching urging unit in the second
rotation range.
[0020] According to this configuration, since the door is urged to
the completely opened side by the switching urging unit in the
first rotation range, it is possible to avoid such a situation
where the door is stopped at an intermediate position between a
opened position and a closed position and thus becomes an obstacle
to attachment or detachment of the tube. In addition, when the door
enters the second rotation range during a closing operation of the
door, a direction of the urging force by the switching urging unit
is switched from the opening direction to the closing direction, so
as to assist in the closing operation of the door. Since the urging
force at this time is suppressed by the closing suppression unit, a
shock that is generated when the door is completely closed can be
alleviated. As a result, a pain felt by a person whose finger or
the like is stuck between the door and the pump body can be
avoided.
[0021] As a second characteristic, the closing suppression unit is
provided not to suppress the urging force in the closing direction
by the switching urging unit in a specified range on the completely
opened side within the second rotation range but to suppress the
urging force in the closing direction by the switching urging unit
in a specified range on the completely closed side within the
second rotation range.
[0022] According to this configuration, when the door enters the
second rotation range during the closing operation of the door, the
door is applied with the urging force in the closing direction by
the switching urging unit. Thus, the closing operation of the door
can be smoothly performed. Then, when the door enters the specified
range on the completely closed side within the second rotation
range, the urging force in the closing direction by the switching
urging unit is suppressed. In this way, an assisting force in the
closing direction for the door can be reduced. Therefore, the shock
that is generated when the door is completely closed can be
alleviated.
[0023] As a third characteristic, the switching urging unit
includes: a rod; a rod support portion that supports the rod
rotatably with respect to the pump body and slidably longitudinal
direction of the rod; and an urging member that urges the rod to
one side in the longitudinal direction. This switching urging unit
causes a front end side of the rod to be engaged with the door, so
as to urge one side portion with a rotation center of the door
being a boundary by one end side of the rod to perform an opening
operation when the door is positioned in the first rotation range,
and to rotate the rod in conjunction with a closing operation and
urge another side portion with the rotation center of the door
being the boundary by the one end side of the rod to perform the
closing operation of the door when the closing operation is
performed until the door is positioned in the second rotation
range.
[0024] According to this configuration, when the door is positioned
in the first rotation range, the one end side of the rod is
positioned in the one side portion of the door with the rotation
center being the boundary. For this reason, the one side portion is
urged by the one end side of the rod, and thus the door is operated
in the opening direction.
[0025] Meanwhile, when the closing operation is performed until the
door is positioned in the second rotation range, the rod rotates
about the rod support portion in conjunction with the closing
operation, and the one end side of the rod moves to the other side
portion of the door with the rotation center being the boundary.
For this reason, the other side portion is urged by the one end
side of the rod, and thus the door is operated in the closing
direction.
[0026] As a fourth characteristic, the switching urging unit is
equipped with a first urging member as the urging member on a
portion of the rod on a front side of the rod support portion. The
closing suppression unit is equipped with a second urging member
for urging the rod to the rear on a portion of the rod on a rear
side of the rod support portion.
[0027] According to this configuration, the switching urging unit
and the closing suppression unit are respectively disposed in front
and rear portions of the same rod. Therefore, structures of these
components can be an integrated structure while a space therefor is
saved.
[0028] As a fifth characteristic, the rod is urged to the front by
the first urging member and urged to the rear by the second urging
member in a range on a completely closed side of a specified angle
within the second rotation range. A load of the second urging
member is maintained to be substantially constant by the rod that
slides to the rear in a range on a completely opened side of the
specified angle.
[0029] According to this configuration, an influence of the load of
the second urging member is insignificant in the range on the
completely opened side of the specified angle, and only a load of
the first urging member in accordance with a door angle acts on a
hand or the like that operates the door. Therefore, favorable
operability can be obtained.
[0030] As a sixth characteristic, the pump mechanism includes a
valve mechanism that presses and deforms the attached tube in a
radial direction by using an urging force of a valve urging member,
so as to close the valve, and is configured to open this valve
mechanism when the fluid is transferred into the tube. The valve
mechanism is provided to be pressed and opened by the one end side
of the rod that rotates in conjunction with the opening operation
when this opening operation of the door is performed, and to
separate from the one end side of the rod and be maintained in a
closed state by the urging force of the valve urging member when
the closing operation of the door is performed.
[0031] According to this configuration, when the opening operation
of the door is performed, the valve mechanism is pressed and opened
by the one end side of the rod that rotates in conjunction with
this opening operation. Thus, the tube can be removed from the pump
mechanism in this state.
[0032] Meanwhile, when the closing operation of the door is
performed, the valve mechanism separates from the one end side of
the rod, and the valve mechanism is maintained in the closed state
by the urging force of the valve urging member. Thus, in this
state, activation of the pump mechanism can be waited while a flow
of the fluid in the tube caused by gravity, vibration, or the like
is inhibited.
[0033] Next, a preferred example that embodies the above aspect
will be described in detail on the basis of the drawings.
EXAMPLE
[0034] A tubing pump 1 according to the invention causes a fluid
(for example, a medical fluid or a nutritional supplement) to
forcibly flow in a tube by the pump, so as to inject the fluid into
a patient body (see FIG. 1).
[0035] This tubing pump 1 is equipped with: a pump body 10; a door
20 that opens or closes a base 11 as a front part of the pump body
10; a tube 30 and a clamp device 40 that are detachably attached to
the base 11; a pump mechanism 50 that is provided in the base 11
and transfers the fluid in the tube 30; and an opening and closing
assist mechanism 60 that assists in opening or closing of the door
20 (see FIGS. 1 to 3).
[0036] The pump body 10 is formed in a substantially rectangular
box shape and has the vertically-arranged base 11 on a front side
thereof that is opened or closed by the door 20. The tube 30 is
transversely inserted through this base 11 (see FIGS. 1 to 3).
[0037] The base 11 is a substantially thick plate-shaped portion,
and a front part thereof is equipped with a horizontal groove for
attaching or detaching the tube 30, a recessed portion for
attaching or detaching the clamp device 40, the pump mechanism 50
for forcibly transferring the fluid in the attached tube 30, and
the like.
[0038] A shaft 11b (see FIG. 4) that rotatably supports the door 20
is provided on a lower end side of the base 11. This shaft 11b is a
columnar or cylindrical shaft that is fixed to a recessed portion
on the lower end side of the base 11 in a manner incapable of
rotating in the substantially horizontal direction.
[0039] The door 20 is a substantially plate-shaped member that is
pivotally supported to be rotatable on the lower end side of the
base 11, is closed to cover the substantially perpendicular front
part of the base 11, and opens the same portion. When this door 20
is closed and superimposed on the front part of the base 11, so as
to be completely closed, a closed state thereof is retained by a
catch mechanism (not depicted) that is provided between the base 11
and the door 20. The catch mechanism may be, for example, a
mechanism that locks a locking portion on the door 20 side to a
locked portion on the base 11 side by using an urging force of an
urging member and cancels the locking by a lever operation or a
mechanism that detachably suctions the door 20 and the base 11 by a
magnet.
[0040] A rotation base 21 (see FIGS. 4 to 8) is provided on a lower
end side of the door 20. The rotation base 21 is annularly attached
to the shaft 11b of the base 11 so as to rotate in a freely
rotatable manner, and is engaged with the opening and closing
assist mechanism 60, which will be described below.
[0041] According to a depicted example, this rotation base 21 is
formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, a portion of an outer
peripheral surface thereof is fixed to the lower end side of the
door 20, and another portion of the outer peripheral surface
thereof pivotally supports a tip of a rod 61 of the opening and
closing assist mechanism 60 to be rotatable.
[0042] The tube 30 is a circular tube that is made of a transparent
synthetic resin, is deformed and closed when being squished by a
pressing force in a radial direction, and elastically restores an
original shape when the pressing force is canceled.
[0043] The clamp device 40 is configured to hold and deform the
tube 30 in the radial direction, so as to close the tube 30 in a
state of being attached to the tube 30, and to cancel the closed
state when a specified operation (for example, a closing operation
of the door 20 or the unillustrated lever operation) is performed
in a state of being attached to the base 11 together with the tube
30.
[0044] For example, as disclosed in JP-A-2007-23803 and Japanese
Domestic Re-publication of PCT International Publication No. WO
2009/133705 A, the pump mechanism 50 forcibly transfers the fluid
in the tube 30 in a d-direction that is indicated by an arrow in
FIG. 2 by appropriately combining pressing and releasing operations
of the attached tube 30, opening and closing operations of a valve
mechanism 70 on an upstream side thereof, opening and closing
operations of a valve mechanism 70' on a downstream side thereof,
and the like (see FIG. 2).
[0045] In addition, the opening and closing assist mechanism 60 is
a mechanism that is supported by the pump body 10 on a rear portion
side (back side) of the base 11, and is equipped with: the rod 61;
a rod support portion 62 that supports the rod 61 rotatably with
respect to the pump body 10 and slidably in a longitudinal
direction of the rod; a first urging member 63 that urges the rod
61 to the front; and a second urging member 64 that urges the rod
61 to the rear in a portion of the rod 61 on a rear side of the rod
support portion 62 (see FIGS. 3 to 8).
[0046] Then, in this opening and closing assist mechanism 60, a
configuration thereof on a front side of the rod support portion 62
constitutes switching urging unit A that urges the door 20 in an
opening direction in a first rotation range R1 on a completely
opened side and that switches an urging direction to a closing
direction in a second rotation range R2 on a completely closed
side, and a configuration thereof on the rear side of the rod
support portion 62 constitutes closing suppression unit B that
suppresses an urging force in the closing direction by the
switching urging unit A in the second rotation range R2.
[0047] The rod 61 is a shaft-shaped member that extends in a
front-rear direction on the back side of the base 11, and is
supported by the rod support portion 62 so as to freely advance or
retreat in the front-rear direction and to freely rotate about the
rod support portion 62.
[0048] A portion (an engaged and disengaged portion 61b, which will
be described below) on a front end side (right end side in FIG. 4)
of this rod 61 is rotatably connected to the outer peripheral
surface of the rotation base 21 of the door 20 via a hinge or the
like. Accordingly, when the rotation base 21 of the door 20 rotates
in conjunction with the opening and closing operations of the door
20, the front end of the rod 61 is pulled by an outer periphery of
the rotation base 21 and also rotates around the rotation base 21
by tracing a substantially fan-shaped path (see FIGS. 4 to 8).
[0049] The rod support portion 62 is a cylindrical member that is
arranged substantially parallel to the rotation base 21 of the door
20 and rotatably supported with respect to the pump body 10. The
rod 61 is inserted through a peripheral wall thereof so as to slide
in the front-rear direction.
[0050] The engaged and disengaged portion 61b that is engaged and
disengaged with and from the valve mechanism 70 (or the valve
mechanism 70') is formed on the front end side of this rod support
portion 62. This engaged and disengaged portion 61b is formed on an
outer peripheral surface in a semi-columnar shape so as to receive
the valve mechanism 70 (see FIGS. 4 to 8).
[0051] It should be noted that an aspect in which, as the engaged
and disengaged portion 61b, a ball bearing is arranged on the front
end side of the rod support portion 62 can also be adopted.
[0052] The first urging member 63 is a compression coil spring, is
annularly attached to the portion of the rod 61 on the front side
of the rod support portion 62, has one seat thereof that abuts
against the outer periphery of the rod support portion 62 and
another seat that is received by a step 61a on the front end side
of the rod 61, and urges the rod 61 to the front.
[0053] The second urging member 64 is a compression coil spring, is
annularly attached to the portion of the rod 61 on the rear side of
the rod support portion 62, has one seat that abuts against the
outer periphery of the rod support portion 62 and another seat that
is received by a nut 61c screwed to a rear end side of the rod 61,
and urges the rod 61 to the rear.
[0054] It should be noted that a plain washer or the like for
adjusting a spring load is interposed as a spacer on the front or
the rear of the first urging member 63 and/or on the front or the
rear of the second urging member 64 if necessary.
[0055] In addition, the valve mechanisms 70, 70' are configured to
press and deform the attached tube 30 in the radial direction by
using an urging force of a valve urging member 72 for closing and
to open the tube 30 when the fluid is transferred thereinto.
[0056] As will be described further in detail, as depicted in FIG.
2, the valve mechanism 70 is arranged on the upstream side of the
tube 30, is pressed and opened by the front end side of the rod 61
that rotates in conjunction with an opening operation of the door
20 when this opening operation is performed, and separates from the
front end side of the rod 61 and is maintained in a closed state by
the urging force of the valve urging member 72 when the closing
operation of the door 20 is performed.
[0057] This valve mechanism 70 is equipped with: a tube placing
surface 11a in the base 11; a holding member 71 that holds the tube
30 between the tube placing surface 11a and the holding member 71;
the valve urging member 72 that urges the holding member 71 in a
holding direction; and a transmission member 73 that is integrally
constructed with the holding member 71 and transmits motion of the
rod 61 to the holding member 71.
[0058] The tube placing surface 11a is a lower surface of the
groove, through which the tube 30 is inserted, in the base 11 and
receives the tube 30, which is attached to the base 11, from a
lower side.
[0059] The holding member 71 is constructed of a base piece 71a
that is pivotally supported to be rotatable with respect to the
pump body 10 and a pressing piece 71b that is connected to a tip
side of the base piece 71a and presses the tube 30 from above.
[0060] The base piece 71a is supported to rotate with respect to
the pump body 10 via a shaft 71c that is substantially parallel to
the tube 30 in the attached state, and is urged downward by the
valve urging member 72 from an upper side while a rotation end side
thereof faces the base 11.
[0061] The pressing piece 71b is integrally fixed to the rotation
end side of the base piece 71a, and is formed in a wedge shape such
that a lower end side thereof is gradually thinned downward. This
pressing piece 71b is arranged to face the tube placing surface 11a
so as to hold the tube 30 substantially at a right angle.
[0062] In addition, the valve urging member 72 is a compression
coil spring. One seat thereof is fixed to the pump body 10, and
another seat thereof urges the holding member 71 in the holding
direction (downward according to the depicted example).
[0063] Furthermore, the transmission member 73 has a crank shape
depicted in FIGS. 4 to 8, and has: a receiving portion 73a that
receives the semicircular engaged and disengaged portion 61b of the
rod 61 from below; and an inclined surface 73b that receives the
engaged and disengaged portion 61b obliquely from below (obliquely
from below and the left according to FIG. 5) for sliding on a lower
end side thereof.
[0064] The receiving portion 73a is a surface that faces an outer
peripheral surface of the engaged and disengaged portion 61b of the
rod 61 from the upper side.
[0065] The inclined surface 73b is an inclined surface that is
connected to the receiving portion 73a via a recessed curved
surface, and is formed to be pressed against and slidingly contact
a tip of the engaged and disengaged portion 61b of the rod 61.
[0066] It should be noted that the other valve mechanism 70' is
arranged on the downstream side of the tube 30. Since this valve
mechanism 70' has a substantially similar configuration as the
above valve mechanism 70, an overlapping detailed description
thereof will not be made.
[0067] Next, characteristic operational effects of the tubing pump
1 with the above configuration will be described in detail.
[0068] First, in a state that the door 20 is at a completely opened
position (see FIG. 4), the first urging member 63 elastically urges
the rod 61 to the front (in a right direction in FIG. 4) with a
larger spring load than that of the second urging member 64 and
that of the valve urging member 72 (see FIG. 9).
[0069] In this state, a center line of the rod 61 is located on one
side (upper side) with a center (rotation center) of the shaft 11b
being a boundary, and the rod 61 presses the outer periphery of the
rotation base 21 of the door 20 (see FIG. 4). Thus, the rotation
base 21 and the door 20 are urged in the opening direction. Since a
portion of the door 20 abuts against an immobile portion of the
base 11 or the like (not depicted), the rotation of the door 20 in
the opening direction is restricted, and the door 20 is stopped at
the completely opened position.
[0070] In addition, in this state, as depicted in FIG. 4, the
engaged and disengaged portion 61b at the front end of the rod 61
abuts against and presses the transmission member 73 of the valve
mechanism 70 from below. In this way, the valve mechanism 70 is
maintained in a completely opened state. Accordingly, in some
portion of the valve mechanism 70, the tube 30 is retained in an
opened state in which the fluid therein can be distributed. It
should be noted that a lower end side of the transmission member 73
abuts against a side surface of the base 11 in this state. Thus,
rotation of the holding member 71 in the opening direction is
restricted.
[0071] Next, when the closing operation of the door 20 is
performed, the engaged and disengaged portion 61b of the rod 61
moves in the substantially fan shape in conjunction with the
closing operation such that the center line of the rod 61
approaches the center (rotation center) of the shaft 11b (see FIGS.
4 and 5). During this movement, in the first rotation range R1 in
which the center line of the rod 61 does not surpass the center
(rotation center) of the shaft 11b, the urging force by the holding
member 71 in the opening direction of the door 20 is retained, and
the urging force of the first urging member 63 is accumulated (see
FIG. 9).
[0072] In addition, during the movement (in other words, during the
closing operation of the door 20 on a completely opened side in the
first rotation range R1), the holding member 71 rotates downward by
the urging force of the valve urging member 72 in a manner to
follow the downward rotation of the front end of the engaged and
disengaged portion 61b at the front end of the rod 61. Accordingly,
the pressing piece 71b at the front end of the holding member 71
presses and gradually closes the tube 30. Then, when the engaged
and disengaged portion 61b at the front end of the rod 61 further
rotates downward, as depicted in FIG. 5, the engaged and disengaged
portion 61b separates from the receiving portion 73a of the
transmission member 73 and moves downward while slidingly contacts
the inclined surface 73b.
[0073] Furthermore, when the door 20 during the closing operation
moves beyond the first rotation range R1 and enters the second
rotation range R2, the engaged and disengaged portion 61b at the
front end of the rod 61 completely separates from the transmission
member 73. Accordingly, the holding member 71 is retained in a
state of pressing and closing the tube 30 in the closed state by
the urging force of the valve urging member 72 (see FIGS. 6 to
8).
[0074] During the closing operation, in the second rotation range
R2, the first urging member 63 urges the rod 61 to the front while
being extended, and gradually reduces the spring load thereof (see
FIG. 9). In addition, in this state, the center line of the rod 61
is located on another side (a lower side) with the center (rotation
center) of the shaft 11b being the boundary, and the rod 61 presses
the outer periphery of the rotation base 21 of the door 20 (see
FIGS. 6 to 8). Accordingly, the rotation base 21 and the door 20
are urged in the closing direction. Thus, the closing operation of
the door 20 is assisted by the urging force of the first urging
member 63.
[0075] When the closing operation of the door 20 is further
performed to have a smaller angle than a specified angle
(specifically, a door angle of 15.degree. indicated in FIGS. 9 and
6(c)), a spring attachment length L (see FIG. 6) of a portion of
the rod 61 on the rear side of the rod support portion 62 becomes
shorter than a free length of the second urging member 64 due to
forward movement of the rod 61, and the second urging member 64
accumulates the urging force while being gradually compressed (see
FIG. 9).
[0076] In other words, the closing suppression unit B that is
constructed of the second urging member 64 and the like does not
suppress the urging force in the closing direction by the switching
urging unit A in a specified range on the completely opened side
within the second rotation range R2 (on the opening direction side
from the door angle of 15.degree. in the depicted example), but
suppresses the urging force in the closing direction by the
switching urging unit A in a specified range on the completely
closed side within the second rotation range R2 (on the closing
direction side from the door angle of 15.degree. in the depicted
example).
[0077] Thus, a shock generated when the door 20 is completely
closed is alleviated. Therefore, damage to the tubing pump 1 by the
shock, a pain felt by a person whose finger or the like is stuck
between the door 20 and the base 11, and the like can be
prevented.
[0078] Then, as depicted in FIG. 9, in the completely closed state
of the door 20, the unillustrated catch mechanism maintains the
completely closed state.
[0079] In this completely closed state, the valve mechanisms 70,
70' are each maintained in the closed state by the urging force of
the valve urging member, and thus can wait for activation of the
pump mechanism 50 while inhibiting the flow of the fluid in the
tube 30 caused by gravity, vibration, or the like.
[0080] On the contrary, when an opening operation of the door 20 in
the completely closed state is performed, the above operation is
reversed. First, when the above unillustrated catch mechanism is
canceled, the door 20 is slightly assisted in the opening direction
by the urging force of the second urging member 64 (see a broken
line from (e) to (d) in FIG. 9).
[0081] Then, when a time point (c) indicated in FIGS. 7 and 9 is
passed in the opening direction, the spring attachment length L
(see FIG. 6) of the portion of the rod 61 on the rear side of the
rod support portion 62 becomes longer then the free length of the
second urging member 64. Accordingly, the load of the second urging
member 64 is maintained to be substantially constant (for example,
at zero or a value close to zero), and resistance by the first
urging member 63, a degree of which corresponds to an opening
amount of the door 20, is generated. The urging force of the first
urging member 63 is accumulated by this opening operation.
[0082] Furthermore, when a time point (b) indicated in FIGS. 5 and
9 is passed in the opening direction, the center line of the rod 61
is located on the upper side of the center of the shaft 11b, and
the rod 61 presses the outer periphery of the rotation base 21 of
the door 20 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). Accordingly, the rotation base 21
and the door 20 are urged in the opening direction. Thus, the
opening operation of the door 20 is assisted by the urging force of
the first urging member 63.
[0083] Furthermore, during the opening operation, at the time point
(b) indicated in FIGS. 5 and 9, the engaged and disengaged portion
61b of the rod 61 abuts against the inclined surface 73b of the
transmission member 73. When this time point is further passed in
the opening direction, due to the rotation of the rod 61 that is
interlocked with the opening operation of the door 20, the engaged
and disengaged portion 61b causes the holding member 71 to rotate
in the opening direction while slidingly contacting the inclined
surface 73b. Then, when the opening operation of the door 20
further continues, the engaged and disengaged portion 61b abuts
against the receiving portion 73a of the transmission member 73.
Thereafter, while this abutment state is maintained, the opening
operation of the door 20, the rotation of the rod 61, and the
rotation of the holding member 71 are interlocked.
[0084] Then, when the tube 30 is almost completely opened by the
rotation, the transmission member 73 abuts against the base 11 (see
FIG. 4). In this way, the rotation becomes restricted, and the door
20 is retained in the completely opened state.
[0085] It should be noted that, according to the above example, the
door 20 is at the completely opened position in a state that the
angle of the door 20 with respect to the base 11 is approximately
90.degree.. However, as other examples of this completely opened
position, an aspect of a state that the angle of the door 20 with
respect to the base 11 is approximately 100.degree. and an aspect
with another angle can be raised. In addition, as other examples of
the first urging member 63, the second urging member 64, and the
valve urging member 72, an aspect that uses a tension spring and an
aspect that uses an elastic member other than the coil spring, such
as rubber or a plate spring, can be raised.
[0086] In addition, according to the above example, the switching
urging unit A and the closing suppression unit B are constructed of
the integrated opening and closing assist mechanism 60. As another
example, the switching urging unit A and the closing suppression
unit B can independently be constructed.
[0087] In addition, according to the above example, the urging
force in the closing direction by the switching urging unit A is
suppressed by the closing suppression unit B only in the partial
range of the second rotation range R2. As another example, an
aspect in which the urging force in the closing direction by the
switching urging unit A is suppressed by the closing suppression
unit B in an entire range of the second rotation range R2 can be
raised.
[0088] In addition, according to the above example, the urging
force of the second urging member 64 does not act in the first
rotation range R1. As another example, an aspect in which the
urging force of the second urging member 64 acts in a partial or
entire range of the first rotation range R1 can be raised.
[0089] In addition, according to the above example, the aspect in
which the opening operation of the door 20, the rotation of the rod
61, and the rotation of the holding member 71 are interlocked at
appropriate timing is adopted. As other examples, an aspect in
which these are interlocked at timing that is not indicated in the
example, and an aspect in which only the holding member 71 is not
interlocked can be raised.
[0090] In addition, according to the above example, the door angles
that correspond to those in FIGS. 4 to 8 are respectively set at
(a) 90.degree., (b) 50.degree., (c) 15.degree., (d) 7.5.degree.,
(e) 0.degree. as indicated in FIG. 9. However, these angles can be
changed by adjusting an angle range in which the door can be opened
or closed, the spring load and the attachment length of the each
urging member, a positional relationship between the opening and
closing assist mechanism 60 and the door 20, and the like.
LIST OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0091] 1 Tubing pump [0092] 10 Pump body [0093] 11 Base [0094] 11b
Shaft [0095] 20 Door [0096] 21 Rotation base [0097] 30 Tube [0098]
50 Pump mechanism [0099] 60 Opening and closing assist mechanism
[0100] 61 Rod [0101] 62 Rod support portion [0102] 63 First urging
member [0103] 64 Second urging member [0104] 70, 70' Valve
mechanism [0105] A Switching urging unit [0106] B Closing
suppression unit [0107] R1 First rotation range [0108] R2 Second
rotation range
* * * * *